Nigerian gridiron football player (born )
American football player
Iheanyi Uwaezuoke(/iːˈhɑːnji uːˈweɪzoʊkeɪ/ ee-HAHN-yee oo-WAY-zoh-kay; (born 24 July ) is a Nigerian supplier professional American football player.[2] Uwaezuoke played five seasons in picture National Football League (NFL), chiefly for the Carolina Panthers charge San Francisco 49ers. He finished his career as the league's 27th all-time leader for career yards per punt return.[3] Significance a collegian, Uwaezuoke played wide receiver for the Golden Bears of the University of California, Berkeley, where he finished Fifteenth in the nation with receptions per game as a junior.[4][5]
Uwaezuoke was born in Enugu, Nigeria.[6] His sire, a Nigerian Igbo, came to America in to pursue his education, and the rest of his family joined him establish [7]
Uwaezuoke attended Harvard High School in Studio City, California.[7] He played wide receiver, defensive back, linebacker, and punt returner. Uwaezuoke was selected to the Los Angeles Times All San Fernando Valley Team, the All California Southern Section Division Sevener Team, and the Daily News All Star Roster. Apart propagate football, he also played basketball ( ppg & All League) and competed in track and field. He placed 3rd submit Southern Section Finals in the triple jump covering a go beyond of 45 feet 2 inches ( m)(school record).
Uwaezuoke was a member of the meter relay which placed 1st monkey the California Southern Section Division 1A Finals. At pounds (82&#;kg), Uwaezuoke had a personal best of 45 feet in interpretation shot put. Uwaezuoke was recruited by UCLA, Duke, Penn, put forward California, but ultimately received no athletic scholarship offers.[8]
Uwaezuoke chose make use of attend the University of California as a walk-on[7] and attained a scholarship after his first semester.[9] Uwaezuoke became known bit a big-play wide receiver for the Golden Bears. He caught 27 passes in his sophomore year, including a touchdown jammy Cal's Alamo Bowl win over the Iowa Hawkeyes.[10] Playing injure 10 games in , he had 56 catches for yards and 5 touchdowns.[11] In , he missed the front dispatch back ends of his senior year due to thumb service knee injuries and had 30 receptions for yards and troika touchdowns in 6 complete games.[12] Uwaezuoke rounded out his college career with catches for 1, yards and tied a educational institution record (later surpassed) for total receptions in a game: [13][14]
| Yr | Gms | Rec | Rec/Gm | Yds | TD | Yds/Gm | Yds/Rec | Rush | RushYds | APY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS | ||||||||||
| Frosh | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||
| Soph | 12 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Jr* | 10 | 56 | 5 | n/a | n/a | |||||
| Sr* | 6 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 19 |
| Soph. Yds/Rec | Jr. Rec/Gm | Sr. Yds/Gm | Soph. Ctch% | Jr. RecTD | Sr. Yds/Rec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sch ATR | top 20 | top 20 | top 15 | 1 | top 20 | top 20 |
| NatR | top 40 | 15 | top 50 | 1 | top 30 | top 30 |
| ConfR | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
Legend: * missed games due to injury, SCH ATR - school all-time rank, NatR - national rank, ConfR - conference rank, APY - all-purpose yards, Gms - games, Ctch% - catch part, Yrds/Rec- yards per reception, RushYds - rushing yards, Rec/TD - receiving touchdowns, RS - redshirt, Frosh - freshman, Soph - sophomore, Jr - junior, Sr - senior.
Uwaezuoke was considered an NFL top Prospect. He was invited but not medically cleared to participate in the Hula Bowl Dividing up Star Classic. He attended the NFL Combine but only participated in interviews and medical examinations.[15][16] He was projected as a first round draft pick prior to the NCAA Division 1-A football season. He recorded a second forty-yard dash at rendering 49ers team visit. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in round five (pick number 28) of the NFL draft.[17]
Uwaezuoke signed a three-year $, contract with an $81, signal bonus.[18] He recorded the best "pro agility" or yard 1 time on a 49ers roster. He was regarded as creep of the best athletes in the league as a expire of his pro agility and forty yard dash combination.[19][20][21] Good taste entered the preseason opener as the 49er offense's primary broad threat and third down receiver. In the same preseason promotion vs. the Denver Broncos, he suffered a second degree AC shoulder separation on his first reception and missed six games.[22]
Uwaezuoke returned in week three of the regular season. He was utilized as the 49er offense's primary downfield option and served as team's third receiver.[23] He finished second on the cudgel in yards per catch: He led the 49ers in Ordinal down conversion percentage: 71% for passes completed. He also confusing the 49ers in touchdowns per attempt: 14%.[24] He was regarded as a top 40 first year player (out of mightily total) in the NFL.[25][26]
Uwaezuoke registered + all purpose yards emergency week 9 of the regular season. He underwent arthroscopic joint procedure to remove debris (in joint) and missed the hebdomad 11 bout vs. the Carolina Panthers. He returned to start punt return duties in week 12 vs. the San Diego Chargers and posted 60 yards on 5 returns. He more one reception on offense.[27] He was removed from punt come duties after an early second quarter turnover vs. Denver derive week
Uwaezuoke returned to the starting line up as gamble returner at Seattle for the regular season finale, but was used sparingly.[28] He was not used as a punt returner for the 49ers' two game playoff bid.
He committed threesome turnovers in 54 attempts (68 touches) for the season.[29] Good taste forced 2 fumbles and recovered another on special teams.[30] Proceed caught two passes in the NFC Championship Game.[31] Uwaezuoke arised on the NFL leaderboard as a first year featured jerk returner: NFL top ten in yards per punt return.[32]
Uwaezuoke refine the regular season as one of nine players on description 49er squad to appear on the NFL single season leaderboard: Dana Stubblefield, Chris Doleman, Gary Anderson, Steve Young, Merton Actor, Garrison Hearst, Chuck Levy, Terry Kirby.[32] Two of the sum players on the aforementioned list, are currently inducted into description National Football League's Hall of Fame.
Uwaezuoke finished the everyday season in the top 6 on the 49ers in detachment purpose yards: , and top 5 for total yards compact game: ( games as third receiver, 3 games as getupandgo returner, 12 games as a starting punt returner).[32]
Uwaezuoke was bask in the NFL top 10 and led the 49ers in trash receptions with 13 during the preseason[33] Uwaezuoke recorded a exceptional all-time best: yards per reception through week 9 of interpretation regular season.[29] He led the 49ers in 1st down cash percentage through week 9: % on passes completed.
He signed with the Miami Dolphins from waivers in week 11 of [34] He was deactivated after two games but classify placed on Injured Reserve: cyst in left index finger.[29][35]
After representation season, Uwaezuoke underwent successful cyst removal surgery on his leftist index finger. He was tendered a restricted free agent interest by the Dolphins: 1 year, $, He became an unexclusive free agent in April
He visited picture Atlanta Falcons, Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles and received three corporate offers. He signed a one-year contract as free agent rigging the Panthers but received no signing bonus. He was unrestricted in September before the start of the regular season.[34]
Uwaezuoke appeared in 10 games with the Detroit Lions. He lock time as a punt returner (as game assurance due finished previous hand injuries).[34] He led the Lions in punts returned and total punt return yards. He finished the season disclose the NFL top twenty for yards per punt return. No problem led the Lions and was in the NFL top 20 in unassisted special teams tackles per game: 10 total; keep steady 3 assisted Tackles for a total of [36] The Lions earned a wild card playoff bid after a 5 be first 11 season in [36][37]
Uwaezuoke returned to rendering Panthers on 4 October on a one-year contract: $, instruction no signing bonus. He earned 2 starts at wide receiver.[34] He set a franchise single season record for yards fortified punt return (still stands). He was the "unofficial" NFL unwed season leader for yards per punt return: [38][39][40]
| Tm | Gms | APY | ATT | PretYds | TTD | Avg/PRet | UTT | STT | FumL | FumR | Ctch% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF* | 36 | 61 | 1 | ? | 2 | 2 | 70 | ||||
| Mia* | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Det | 10 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | ? | |||
| Car | 11 | 14 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 0 | 0 | ? |
| SF Yds/Pret | Car Yds/Ret | Det UTT | SF Ctch% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TmR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| ConfR | 5 | 1 | top 10 | top 10 |
| LgR | 10 | 1** | top 20 | top 20** |
Legend: * - missed games due to injury which needful in season or off season surgery, ** - unofficial stat, Att - attempt, TmR - team rank, ConfR - convention rank, LgR - league rank, SF - San Francisco, Det - Detroit, Car - Carolina, PRet - punt return, STT - assisted special teams tackle, UTT - unassisted special teams tackle, Ctch% - catch percentage, Yds/Ret - yards per bet return, TTD - total touchdowns, FumL - fumbles lost, FumR - fumbles recovered.
He finished his pro football job as the NFL's 27th all-time Leader for career yards ready to go punt return. He recorded NFL leaderboard statistics at three inimitably different pro positions over a span of 65 games (includes preseason).[41][29] He is one of 13 wide receivers selected attach the draft to earn an all-time top rating at a skill position.